SQUAD - LATVIA/FRANCE 22nd/27th MARCH 2023

I think, unfortunately for Mc Namara, he is going to have to wait until the skipper hangs up his boots. His case for inclusion is less compelling than that of Manning's on the other flank and added to that, Coleman and Doherty are two of the first names on the squad list. We also have Browne, Ogbene and more recently Sykes in the squad, all of whom have experience playing in the position. Ebosele has also been called up in the not too distant past.

McNamara has had a decent season for a Millwall side punching above their weight, but his figures arent particularly impressive for a RWB, 29 starts and 1 sub app this season in the Championship, just 1 assist and a Whoscored rating of 6.70. Christie at Hull 24 starts, 4 sub apps, 3 goals, 1 assist and a Whoscored rating of 6.76 probably has a stronger claim based purely on form and I dont think he'll be selected either. Lyons has also had a good start to his Blackpool career with a goal already after just 5 starts and 2 sub apps since his January move.

By way of comparison Manning has the 4th best Whoscored rating in the entire Championship (7.18) and has 3 goals and 6 assists in 29 starts and 2 sub apps plus he has been named Man of the Match 7 times (only 1 player in the Division has more), McNamara has 0 MotM awards.

Well said, John. My comment about Parrott was clearly relative.

I accept some of that, but I still dont think the case for McNamara's inclusion for the next squad is as strong as Manning's based not just on form, but also on competition for the spot, unless you think McNamara should be ahead of either Coleman or Doherty in the pecking order. Manning is competing with McClean, Brady and O'Dowda. McNamara will have to be patient, I dont think his omission to date is particularly controversial and I havent seen enough of him play to give an opinion on whether or not he will have a better international career than Manning. He will also have plenty of competition from younger players coming through when Coleman retires e.g. Lyons/Ebosele.

There are plenty of curious Kenny selections that are worthy of criticism, I just dont think his omission of McNamara is one of them.

Fair enough, in which case, it should probably have been done before now. As things stand it looks likely that Doherty will need minutes vs Latvia and we are likely to have Coleman, Browne (who has played almost half his games this season as a RWB), Sykes ditto and Ogbene in the squad. 

In any case, barring injuries I dont see McNamara as being a priority introduction for this next squad. I would be more critical of Kenny for his ongoing exclusion of Manning than I would be of him for not introducing McNamara at this point in time, but tbh I wouldnt even be as critical as some have been regarding Manning - I dont think it's that clear cut, Mc Clean, Brady (at the time i.e. November) and O'Dowda were all also playing well. This time around Brady seems pretty much out of favour at PNE, so it will be interesting to see if Kenny retains him in the squad, maybe on the basis of his experience, ability to play elsewhere on the park, set pieces. Both McNamara and Manning may well have to wait for the next campaign/manager to get a chance.

France XI:

Ferguson------Obafemi

McClean-----Browne-------Molumby-----Doherty

Cullen

Egan---------Collins-------O'Shea

Bazunu

Isn't Molumby enough for that? Someone who can progress the ball to the front 2 is needed. For all the stick he gets, genuinely think Hendrick is the best man for that.

Controversial. 

I'm a long time supporter of Hendrick on here, purely because I think he gets way more stick than is warranted. It's not his fault that he's only as good as he is, nor is it his fault that there has been really nobody better than him for a long time now, but I dont see us progressing the ball through midfield in the French game, so I dont think it's a game that will play to Jeff's strengths. Knight and Molumby have the tenacity and work rate to press hard and get up in support of the front 2 when required, that's not Hendrick's game. I even see some advocating for a switch back to the 3-4-2-1 and playing an additional midfielder McGrath ahead of Obafemi and I'd imagine that is more likely than Hendrick starting in a 3-5-2.

Issue with Hendrick is he needs to be in a 3 man midfield he was a passenger in the 2nd half against Armenia away the day we needed someone to step up get on and keep the ball etc.

As for Parrott he will be in the squad but I would think his starting place might be under threat. Evan Ferguson is the first name picked and Obafemi might get the nod with him. Think personally it’s a game for Ogbene but I don’t see him getting picked.